Yamaha Embraces Sustainability with Green Aluminium in Japanese Bikes

Yamaha Motor has recently made a deal with a supplier of aluminum ingots to acquire green aluminum, which they have started using for motorcycle parts since February 2023.

Yamaha Motor will initially incorporate green aluminum in specific components of its high-performance motorcycles and off-road racing bikes. As supply availability increases, the company aims to extend the use of this material to more models. Notably, recycled aluminum currently constitutes 80% of the aluminum used in Yamaha's product line.

What is Green Aluminium? Why is Yamaha adopting it?

The term "green aluminium" refers to aluminum that is produced using renewable energy sources, resulting in lower CO2 emissions during the refining process. Yamaha Motor notes that aluminum parts typically constitute 12% to 31% of a motorcycle's total weight, making the adoption of green aluminum an effective way to reduce CO2 emissions associated with the production of raw materials. By using green aluminum, Yamaha hopes to decrease the environmental impact of its products during the raw material manufacturing stage of the product's life cycle.

Yamaha Motor is working towards achieving carbon neutrality across all its business operations, including its entire supply chain, by 2050 as part of its Environmental Plan 2050.

Yamaha Motor aims to achieve its carbon neutrality goal by 2050 through the use of 100% sustainable materials. To achieve this, the company plans to incorporate more plant-based resin materials, create recyclable polypropylene, and utilize green materials and other recycled materials for its motorcycles manufactured both in Japan and overseas.